Police arrest 2nd man in Chapel Hill shooting

U.S. marshals arrested a second suspect Wednesday in the May 30 shooting death of a man on Christopher Road in Chapel Hill.

Brandon Shamar Townsend, 21, of 3515 Varina Drive, Durham, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Lew Hahn “Ron” Hood at 102 S. Christopher Road. according to Chapel Hill police.

He also was charged with attempted first-degree murder, suggesting there may have been another intended victim. Chapel Hill Police spokesman Lt. Josh Mecimore said he could not comment on the shooting.

Townsend is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. Warrants for his arrest were issued earlier this month, according to the arrest report.

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Another man, Bartholomew Romindas Scott, 35, of Durham, was charged shortly after the shooting with first-degree murder. His attorney has said he is the one who called 911 about the shooting at 102 S. Christopher Road.

When officers arrived at the house, they found Hood, 33, had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An Orange County grand jury indicted Scott on the charge June 9.

Scott also is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail.

Police are still investigating the crime, Mecimore said. Evidence they collected while searching the house led to Townsend’s arrest, he said.

Chapel Hill police have not released details or a motive for the crime.

In 2012, Townsend was charged with murder in a Durham drive-by shooting in which a 13-year-old girl playing in front of her home was shot and killed. The Durham County district attorney dismissed the charge against Townsend in April, saying investigators had not yet received the DNA results back from the SBI

The district attorney’s office could reinstate the charge if the results show Townsend was involved in the shooting.

Officials think the shooter was aiming at some rival gang members who were playing basketball at the apartment complex in May 2011 when Shakanah China was shot and killed.

Townsend’s attorney argued the only evidence police had against Townsend was a witness who claimed to have seen him near a van before and after the shooting.